Former leader of the National Front Jean-Marie Le Pen died this Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the age of 96, his family announced. Contrasted political reactions are pouring in.
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It is through a press release that the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron sent his condolences to the family of Jean-Marie Le Pen. Speaking from the Élysée, the head of state believes that the creator of the FN played a “ role in public life ” Who ” is now subject to the judgment of History. »
In a post on X, Prime Minister François Bayrou believes that Jean-Marie Le Pen “ beyond the controversies ” And ” necessary clashes on the merits ”,“ will have been a figure in French political life “.
For the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, “ today, a page in French political history is turning. Whatever opinion one may have of Jean-Marie Le Pen, he will undoubtedly have left his mark on his era. “, he declares.
Also readJean-Marie Le Pen, historic figure of the French far right, has died at the age of 96
“ People’s Tribune »
On the side of the National Rally, its president, Jordan Bardella salutes the memory of a man who “ has always served France, defended its identity and sovereignty “, In ” the French army in Indochina and Algeria ”, or as “ tribune of the people. »
Its vice-president Sébastien Chenu deplored the “ death of an immense patriot, visionary and an incarnation of courage ” Who “ brought the hope of millions of French people. »
The granddaughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen and far-right MEP Marion Maréchal spoke on the social network Throughout your life, you have inspired hundreds of thousands of vocations. You allowed, for a long time alone against everyone, that millions of French people were once again proud of themselves and their country. Thank you for all this », Wrote Marine Le Pen’s niece.
Joined by Charlotte Urien-Tomaka of the political service of RFI, the former RN deputy Gilbert Collard sees in Jean-Marie Le Pen, a “ part of history that is passing away, he is a character of a prophetic dimension. »
I rubbed shoulders with the character, even if I often confronted him on issues that we know. I have not always agreed with him, far from it. […] He is a part of history that is disappearing, he is a character with a prophetic dimension. I believe that many people now agree to recognize who represented a verbal monument, an oratorical monument, a historical monument. There will be no man after him who has experienced all the storms of history. He enters into the process of historical judgment which is part of his destiny.
Gilbert Collard, former member of the National Rally
Eric Zemmour, founder of the far-right Reconquest party, underlines that “ beyond the controversies, what we will remember about him in the coming decades is that he was among the first to alert France of the existential threats that await it. “.
Of the “ nauseating ideas that remain »
And if the representatives of the extreme right praise the memory of the founder of the National Front, the left calls for continuing the fight against his ideas.
The leader of the rebels Jean-Luc Mélenchon believes that if the “ fight » against Jean-Marie Le Pen was now “ finished “, the one “ against hatred, racism, Islamophobia and continued anti-Semitism “. Communist senator Ian Brossat deplored “ his nauseating ideas » « who remain “.
According to rebellious MP Thomas Portes, the legacy of Jean-Marie Le Pen “ is present “, he said on the microphone ofAurélien Devernoix from the RFI political department.
I have not seen a member of parliament or a leader of the National Rally condemn all of Jean-Marie Le Pen’s comments. And moreover, Jordan Bardella in his reactions says that he was engaged in the uniform of the French army in Indochina, in Algeria, but Jordan Bardella forgets one thing, which is that the operations in Algeria were operations within the framework of a colonization army, that Jean-Marie Le Pen participated in torture operations. So there is no negation, there is rather a filiation. And somewhere, yes, I think, a bit of nostalgia for what Jean-Marie Le Pen was.
Thomas Portes, MP La France insoumise
Death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, special edition 7:10 p.m.-7:30 p.m.